The 2025 NFL Season is upon us. The season officially kicks off on Thursday, September 4. You’re probably as ready as I am to see games that matter. You probably also have your own hopes and predictions for the season. Below are 10 bold predictions I have about the 2025 NFL Season. Feel free to leave some of your own in the comments and we’ll check back at the end of the season to see how we do!
The Seahawks and Patriots will make the Playoffs
About: Every year we see some teams that were well out of it come back to make the playoffs. While I have my own thoughts on the full field, my seventh seed in each conference is a team I think is being discounted.
The Seahawks might be the most overlooked team in the NFC West, and that’s saying something. People don’t believe in Sam Darnold. But this team has a good defense and a good running game.
In the AFC, I think the Patriots are primed to bounce back with Mike Vrabel. I could even see Vrabel finishing as Coach of the Year.
The Bills will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC
About: The Bills have been close the past few years, but I think this is the season they get to the top of the mountain in the AFC. Watching them on Hard Knocks has only made me more excited. I reflected that teams on Hard Knocks haven’t typically been big contenders, but there’s a first for everything. I like the Bills and I think they’re bound for a magical season that ends in the Super Bowl. But along the way, I think they’ll post the best record in the AFC.
The Vikings will finish below .500
About: This comes down to whether you believe in J.J. McCarthy or not. Look, I get that the Vikings won 14 games last year. They still have a good coach, a good defense, and some good skill position players. But I think there will be growing pains for the second-year passer who is essentially a rookie again. The Vikings have seemingly chased great seasons with disappointing ones of late under Kevin O’Connell, too. I think they will finish last in the NFC North this season.
The Steelers will win fewer games in 2025 with Aaron Rodgers
About: Last year, I thought Aaron Rodgers might finish as the Comeback Player of the Year. This year, I’m all out on Rodgers. The Steelers won 10 games with a combination of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in 2024.
The hope for them is that Rodgers helps the team maximize its talent and get back in the Super Bowl conversation. I don’t see it. I think this team is worse at the skill positions on offense and unlikely to improve on its 2024 performance. They could still win nine games and keep Mike Tomlin’s streak alive, but I don’t think they get back to 10 wins. And I think they are starting over at quarterback again next off-season.
Russell Wilson will start four games for the Giants
About: Yes, Wilson is the Giants’ opening day starter. But the Giants have a tough early schedule that features the Commanders, Cowboys, Chiefs, and Chargers. I think at the end of that stretch the team is 1-3 and looking for answers. Jaxson Dart was great in the pre-season and he’s the future. Brian Daboll will make the switch and see what the team has in Dart. That might not be the answer, and I don’t think the Giants make the playoffs, but it’s better to go out swinging.
Both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders will start for the Browns
About: Joe Flacco is the starter and might be the best option on the roster. It’s not a very good roster. The Browns figure to be one of the worst teams in the NFL, again. I think in light of their record, they’ll want to see what the young quarterbacks have to offer. I suspect we’ll see both rookies start at least one game so the Browns can do some due diligence before the 2026 NFL Draft.
Drake Maye will finish as a QB1
About: Maye got the starting job beginning in Week 6 of the NFL season. He started through Week 17 before Joe Milton got to show what he could do in Week 18. During that stretch, Maye finished as QB14. It’s not a stretch to think he could take another step up with a better offensive line, a better set of offensive weapons and Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels now at the helm. I like him to finish as a QB1.
R.J. Harvey will win Offensive Rookie of the Year
About: This award has typically gone to a rookie on a team that made the playoffs. That knocks out Ashton Jeanty, Cam Ward, and Tet McMillan for me, as I don’t think any of them make the playoffs. But that’s not the only reason I’m in on Harvey. Call me a homer, but I like Harvey and I like his potential in the Broncos’ offense. The team has been searching for an answer in the backfield under Sean Payton, and I think Harvey is it.
Emeka Egbuka will lead the Buccaneers receivers
About: Egbuka felt like a luxury pick when it was made in the draft. The question wasn’t his talent, but rather his path to targets in 2025. That’s become clearer. Second-year man Jalen McMillan is on IR. Chris Godwin is still not ready to return and won’t be back until October. Mike Evans is still there, but he’s getting older.
Egbuka, meanwhile, has been tearing it up all camp and moved into a starting role. I think he’s poised to explode with Baker Mayfield and will end the year as the Buccaneers’ top receiver and a great asset for fantasy.
George Kittle will lead the 49ers receiving group
About: I think the 49ers will bounce back in 2025. They were 6-11 and finished in last place in the NFC West last year. I think they move back to the top of the division and the playoffs again in 2025. And Kittle will be a big part of helping them get there. He will finish with the most receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns for the team. I think there’s a path for him to be THE TE1, too.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
